Santa pays early visit in Jewett City

A cherished holiday icon debuted Sunday in Eastern Connecticut, ushered in by small children’s joyful screams.

By ALISON SHEA

The Bulletin

By ALISON SHEA

Posted Nov. 19, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Nov 19, 2012 at 7:04 PM

By ALISON SHEA

Posted Nov. 19, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Nov 19, 2012 at 7:04 PM

Jewett City, Conn.

A cherished holiday icon debuted Sunday in Eastern Connecticut, ushered in by small children’s joyful screams.

Santa Claus made his way through Jewett City during the annual Snowflake Festival Parade on Sunday, capping his long journey from the North Pole with a breather at the Griswold Veterans Memorial Park gazebo. More than 200 children lined up for a visit to Santa’s lap, and complementary hot cocoa and doughnut holes.

At the front of the line, waiting for Santa’s arrival since a full half-hour before the parade even stepped off, were Stacey Frazelle and her daughter, Jordan, 3, of Griswold. Jordan, dressed up like a princess, shyly held up a cutout of the pink and purple princess castle toy she wanted for Christmas. Her eyes widened, and the girls behind her screamed, as they watched Santa walk into the gazebo.

Spectators noted that it was a bit early for the event — Thanksgiving hasn’t even come and gone yet.

“I’m not completely in the Christmas spirit, but this will bring it out, that’s for sure,” said Towanda Ritz of Griswold, who watched along Main Street with her daughters Onyae, Monyae and Megan.

Toward the end of the route, children waiting to catch a glimpse of the jolly old elf said they haven’t even made their lists yet.

Dakota Schroth, 5, of Griswold dragged out her “ums” before nodding at her mom and dad Becky Cluff and Nick Schroth’s suggestion of an Easy Bake Oven. She hoped to curry favor with Santa and Mrs. Claus, proudly showing off a picture she drew for them.

Nicole Bazinet, 8, of Lisbon just hoped to see Santa this year. Her father, Jon Bazinet, said they didn’t wait last year because the lines were too long.

A children’s wagon- and bicycle-decorating contest brought out children’s — and their parents’ — creativity.

“We’re dollar store champions,” Kristi Wood, of Griswold, said as she took a picture of her daughter, Jenavee Klewin, 1, dressed up like a gift box in the back of a wagon decorated with garland and fake Christmas trees. The entry later earned second place in the under-3 age category.

“It took about three hours to build,” Wood said between takes. “The hardest part was the costumes” for Jenavee and neighbor Madison Krupinski, 9.

This parade marks the last year of a favorite tradition — town and borough officials chucking “sno-ball” treats at spectators instead of candy. Hostess, the company that makes the treats, announced its shutdown last week. Spectators lucky enough to catch a pack of orange treats joked about selling them on the Internet.